Profiles of Kennedy part 3

coincollector1989

Well here is the third installment of Profiles of Kennedy. This one is a very long read, as there are lots of varieties. If anyone has any photographs that they would like to share of this date please post them as I have none to post, and of course if I missed anything please let me know. Now get to collecting them Kennedys.

1966 SMS:
Mintage SMS: 2,261,583
Population estimate MS Cameo: MS-65 1,500-3,000 MS-66 2,000-4,000 MS-67+ 1000-2,000
Population estimate MS DCAM: MS-65 200-400 MS-66 300-600 MS-67+ 150-300

Key points to remember: This was the second year of reduced silver content (40%). This was also the second year of the SMS series, as no proofs were made during 1965, 1966, 1967. SMS dies were not as highly polished or burnished as previous proof dies. These dies were used for longer periods of time than proof dies. SMS coin dies did not receive any cleaning or maintenance as proof dies did, but there was considerable to the production practice. The SMS coins were struck under high pressure as proof coins though. The most important thing to remember about SMS coins is that they were not individually handled after striking, they were treated just as regular coinage for circulation and dumped into a coin bin. Bag marks are frequent on this year. Gem brilliant specimens are fairly easly to locate. Non-cameo, deeply mirrored gems with no water spots and bag marks are moderately scarce. PQ graded 1966 SMS Kennedy’s with DCAM do not exhibit the snow white appearance as the 1965 SMS, but their mirrors will be very deep.

Varieties: 1966 SMS There are numerous varieties to this date, don’t confuse one variety with another I suggest you use “The Kennedy Half Dollar Book” by Wiles for more specific differences along with photographs.

DDO-001, Strong spread on profile including nose, ear, eye, and initials with medium CW rotation on LIB of LIBERTY, and light spread on IN GOD WE TRUST.
Die marker (E/MDS): Short die gouge South from upper L of LIBERTY. Short horizontal die scratch above eagle’s right leg. Minor split serifs on the stars under OF AMERICA and CA of AMERICA.
No confirmed LDS.
Rarity: very scarce 17-32 known

DDO-002, Obverse: Light spread on IN GOD WE TRUST, date, and Y of LIBERTY. Reverse: Initials abraded away.
Die Markers MDS: Minor doubling on the stars under STATES OF AMERICA.
LDS: Lower F of initials or complete initials abraded away, Bridge of nose and eye abraded away.
There is no confirmed EDS.
Rarity: moderately scarce only 33-64 known.

DDO-007, Strong spread on initials, profile, eye earlobe, and hair above the forehead, with CW rotation on IB of LIBERTY. Medium spread on IN GOD and light spread on WE TRUST and date.
Die markers EDS: Several short Northwest die gouges Southwest of the first 6 of the date.
No confirmed LDS
Rarity: rare 5-8 known

DDO-009, Obverse: Light spread on profile, eye, ear, and initials with a very light spread on IN GOD WE TRUST.
There is no confirmed MDS or LDS
Rarity: ultra rare only 1 known

DDO-010, Strong spread on profile, eye, hair above the forehead, ear, and initials, with medium spread on IN GOD with CW rotation on LIBER of LIBERTY.
Die marker (EDS): Minor doubling on UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and stars under those letters
Die marker (MDS): Light die clash through DOL of DOLLAR.
There is no confirmed LDS
Rarity: rare 3-4 known

DDO-011, Medium spread on IN GOD WE TRUST with light spread on LIBERTY and triple spread on date.
There is no confirmed EDS
Die marker (MDS): die scratch Southeast from D of GOD to bust point
Rarity: ultra rare 2 known

DDO-012, Medium spread on the hair under the R of LIBERTY, with light spread on the RTY of LIBERTY.
There is no confirmed EDS or LDS
Rarity: ultra rare 2 known

DDO-013, Strong spread on profile, eye, ear, side burn, initials, and IN GOD WE TRUST, with triple spread on the T of TRUST, and with medium CW rotation on IB of LIBERTY, and mudium CW rotation on the 6 of the date.
Die markers (EDS): Die scratch from lower lip to chin. Two light die gouges next to rim Southwest of I of IN. Light die scratches North-South above arrows in eagle’s left talon.
Die markers (E/MDS): Die clash in front of forehead.
Die markers (MDS): Die clash abraded away.
There is no confirmed LDS.
Rarity: moderately scarce 65-125 known.

DDO-015, Strong spread on ear, hair at the top back of the head, and back of neck, with medium spread on profile, and eye with CCW rotation on LIBERTY and light spread on IN GOD WE TRUST.
EDS: Minor doubling on stars under STATES OF AMERICA
There are no confirmed MDS or LDS.
Rarity: ultra rare 1 known

DDO-016, Medium spread on profile, eye, ear, and initials, a light spread on IN GOD WE TRUST and date.
There are no confirmed EDS or LDS
Rarity: ultra rare 1 known

DDO-017, Strong spread on profile, eye, ear, initials, and hair above the forehead.
Die marker (EDS): Long thin die scratch South from T of LIBERTY. Numerous light die scratches North-South in front of profile. Light die gouge dot in field at tip of nose (E/MDS)
Die Marker (MDS): Die scratch from T of LIBERTY is very weak. Die scratch from N of IN to 1 of date.
Die marker (LDS): Die scratch from T of LIBERTY is gone.
Rarity: rare 9-16 known

DDO-018, DDR-002, Obverse: Medium spread on profile, ear, initials, and IN GOD WE TRUST, with CW rotation on the date and LI of LIBERTY, light spread on eye, hair at the back of the head and tripling on the Y of LIBERTY. Reverse: Light spread on STATES OF AMERICA and stars under those letters.
There are no confirmed MDS or LDS.
Rarity: ultra rare only 2 known

DDO-019, Strong spread on profile, eye, earlobe, initials, IN GOD WE TRUST, with strong CCW rotation on the last 6 of the date, and medium CCW rotation on TY of LIBERTY.
Die markers (EDS): short die gouge South from upper L of LIBERTY.
There are no confirmed MDS or LDS
EIDTED: Rarity: ultra rare only 1 known BY WILES (3 KNOWN BY DHEATH WITH 1 BEING MS-67 CAM BY NGC)

DDO-020, Strong spread on profile, eye, initials, and IN GOD, medium spread on hair above the forehead, and WE with CW rotation on LIB of LIBERTY, and light Spread on TRUST and date.
There is no confirmed LDS.
Rarity: ultra rare there are only 2 known.

DDO-024, DDR-001, Obverse: Strong spread on profile, eye, ear, and initials, and medium spread on GOD WE. Obverse: Light spread on UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, stars under those letters, and stars between the rays and above E PLURIBUS UNUM, with tripling on the stars under STATES OF.
Die marker (MDS): Light die scratch South from tip of nose.
There are no confirmed EDS or LDS.
Rarity: ultra rare only 2 known

DDO-025, Medium CCW rotation on LIBERTY and the last 6 of the date, medium spread on ear, hair at back of head, and initials, with light spread on WE TRUST, lips, chin, and neck
Die marker (MDS): Minor doubling on the stars under STATES OF AMERICA
There are no confirmed EDS or LDS
Rarity: ultra rare only 1 known

DDO-028, Light spread on eye and nostril with CW rotation on LIB of LIBERTY and very light spread on chin.
Die marker (EDS): Light die scratch Southwest from lower lip
There are no confirmed MDS or LDS
Rarity: ultra rare only 1 known

DDR-004, Light spread on stars under letter of STATES OF AMERICA, and stars between the rays.
There are no confirmed MDS or LDS.
Rarity: ultra rare only 1 known.

ADR-002, F of initials abraded away.
Die marker (LDS): heavily abraded Reverse, Bridge of noes, eye, and right leg of R of LIBERTY abraded away.
There are no confirmed EDS or MDS.
Rarity: rare only 5-8 known

I hope you enjoyed reading this and fall in love with the Kennedy as I have. Books reference are "THE KENNEDY HALF DOLLAR BOOK by James Wiles, CAMEO AND BRILLIANT PROOF COINAGE OF THE 1950 TO 1970 ERA by Rick Tomaska, TREASURE HUNTING FRANKLIN AND KENNEDY HALF DOLLARS DOUBLED DIES by Kevin Flynn and John Wexler.

cladking

Great.

There were a significant number of these sets busted up in '79/ '80 for the
silver in the half dollar. The set was worth only about $2.50 at the time and
the silver was up around $8 on the futures market. Only a few percent of
sets are available at any given time but most of those were destroyed.

This date comes very nice on rare occasion. The top 10% are quite choice.
and about the top 30% look pretty good.

DHeath

The DDO 19 is a tough coin. The one below is mine. It is listed as URS-1, but I am aware of three coins. The last picture is the die gouge that Dr.Wiles mentions.

coincollector1989

CK Thanks for the info on the survibility of the SMS set. DH great looking photos, I will add this information to my files.

EDITED: DH what is the grade and by who if not raw? CK How many sets do you still think are available today?

DHeath

Stacey, it's in an NGC holder labeled MS67 Cam.

DHeath

Just for fun, here's the a nice no FG. Very abraded dies, The stars are almost polished off the reverse, and the bridge of the nose is gone.